Cherokee County Murder Suspect: Lawyers Wouldn't Let Me Plead Guilty

A judge sentenced a man to life without parole after the man wrote him a letter say he wanted to plead guilty to killing a well-known Cherokee County rancher.

An employee found the body of Charley Kirk, 88, in his home in July of 2015.

Paul Newberry, 26, wrote the judge a letter saying he wanted to fire his lawyers because they wouldn't let him plead guilty. 

On Thursday, September 22, 2016, the judge accepted his plea and sentenced him to life without parole for 1st-degree murder, as well as 15 years each for robbery with a weapon, burglary, arson, attempted arson and larceny of an automobile. The sentences will run concurrently.

July 31, 2015: Related Story: 2 Confess To Murder Of Cherokee County Rancher As Community Mourns

In his letter to the judge, Newberry said he understood that the death penalty was "on the table" but said, "I'm done putting the family through this." He said not a night goes by that he doesn't hate himself and that he's sorry for what he did.

He also told the judge he won't be filing any appeals.

The case against the other defendant in the case, Cheyenne Watts, is still proceeding. 

Read Newberry's letter: